Bernice Schwartz, right, celebrates a strike while holding a trophy the senior center's team won recently for good luck as friend Gloria Gangitano looks on during practice Wednesday. ROD VEAL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Harriette Herron turns to her team after making a strike in Wii bowling Wednesday at the Rodgers Senior Center. ROD VEAL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

HUNTINGTON BEACH - Seniors nationwide and locally say they are addicted to a new gadget: Nintendo Wii.

It's not an expected pairing, older people and cutting edge gaming. But experts say seniors are falling in love with the technology, which uses hand held devices to simulate traditional, low-tech games like bowling, golf, and tennis.

The men and women who go Wii bowling every Wednesday at the Huntington Beach Rodger's Senior Center have grown so enthusiastic that they have formed a team, the Surf City Strikers, and they've taken to wearing bright blue team shirts while playing. Several members also have purchased Wii consoles to play at home.

"We can't plan anything on Wednesdays because we've got to be here," said Leon Herron at their weekly bowling practice. "In fact we went on vacation and (Harriette) said, 'Oh my God. We are going to miss Wii bowling.' and I said, 'We are going to Hawaii. I think we will be OK.'"

Senior living communities and centers in Cypress, Cerritos, Mission Viejo and Irvine also own and play Wii games, said Chris Cole, recreational coordinator at Huntington Beach's center. The Huntington Beach team is undefeated in tournaments against the other communities, he added.

"KA-BOOM!"

The CEO of the International Council on Active Aging summed up the game's popularity with one word, "explosion."

"In the 26 years that I've been in the health and wellness industry it is one of the first products that has exploded nationally in a very short period of time," said Colin Milner. "It has just gone ka-boom."

Milner said there are several reasons for the trend. The game is easy to use, socially interactive, mentally stimulating, and low impact exercise – the perfect cocktail for the senior community.

A recent survey by the International Council on Active Aging found that about 60 percent of their members have either purchased or plan on buying computer generated games such as the Wii, Milner said.

In October, the national Wii league for senior living communities launched a bowling section online. It has 182 teams in 102 communities, said founder Dennis Berkholtz, a past Olympic athlete and coach for the U.S.A. Team Handball.

The National Senior League uses their Web site to track scores and determine division and national champions. The oldest member with the league is 97, he said.

"I always thought that they – meaning the industry – didn't do enough to get these people excited about things other then bingo, putting puzzles together, and going places," Berkholtz said. "The reason Wii, I think, is so popular is many of these people have bowled in the past ... and it is very authentic and very simple."

LIVING LONG AND HEALTHY

At the Huntington Beach center on Wednesday, the Herrons high-fived and teased each other about their scores. Leon Herron said the game helps with his wife's Alzheimer's disease.

"The routine of the activity is really good and it gives purpose for getting up that day and going and doing something," he said.

One of the game's primary benefits is boosting mental health — motivating seniors to interact with others and get out of the house, Milner said. He added the social interaction and emotional highs of competing and winning combat depression and isolation.

"Number one in many of these communities and senior centers is drawing people out," he said. "You are just doing more than if you were sitting at home all day."

The ease of the exercise also allows retired bowlers to get back to the blowing alley – even virtually.

David Dong, another Surf City Striker, had bowled for 15 years but had to give up the game after a stroke in 2001.

Dong, 84, learned of the local Wii league in March and began using his left arm to bowl with the remote. Dong is now the team's highest bowler with a top score of 299. He said that before his stroke his best score was 269.

"It is something I can handle," said Dong about the game. "I couldn't carry around a 12 pound ball anymore. So I just carry a remote."

SENIOR TECHNOLOGY

Another Huntington Beach bowler Gloria Gangitano, 77, said it was initially difficult to conquer the Wii controller.

"At the beginning you go, 'Oh my God, why do I push this one (button) and not this one," said Gangitano, who does not have e-mail.

Berkholtz said there has been a recent push in senior communities to introduce technology to their residents and Wii fits into that plan. Centers have already been using computer games to keep residents mentally sharp.

Coaches with the National Senior League are asked to encourage players to check their scores online and twitter about the games. Players can also set up a profile online and add a picture.

Cole said the people who started the Strikers had played the game with their grandchildren or children and were more familiar with the technology.

"From there people poked their heads into the room because they heard the loud cheering and roaring, and then said, 'If they can do it, so can I,'" Cole said.

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